With its high concentrations of certain rare earth minerals that are critical for technology manufacturing, Myanmar has become one of the largest suppliers of these minerals to China. In northern Myanmar, especially Kachin State, rare earth mining operations are a critical part of the fragmented political and economic landscape, with the Kachin Independence Army now controlling key mining zones and China cautiously reopening trade routes. As demand for rare earths increases, it is important to understand the effects of rare earth mining.

In this session, we will explore the growth of Myanmar’s rare earths sector and its position in supply chains, and the wide-ranging impacts of rare earth mining on local communities from environmental damage to geopolitical dynamics.

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